Development of capacitive sensor for automatically measuring tumbler water level with FEA simulation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Sensor Technology
• Material Science

Background:

• Adequate water intake is crucial for health, yet many individuals consume less than the recommended daily amount due to unmonitored consumption.
• Existing methods for tracking water intake are often manual and inaccurate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel capacitive sensor system for an automatic tumbler designed to accurately measure water levels.
• To develop a smart tumbler capable of monitoring fluid intake.

Main Methods:

• A capacitive sensor was designed with separate main and reference sensors for precise water level measurement.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations were used to optimize the sensor's shape.
• Copper electrodes were fabricated using 3D printing, and experimental validation was performed.

Main Results:

• Experimental results demonstrated a linear relationship between the measured capacitance and water level, confirming accurate measurement.
• Simulation results closely matched experimental data, validating the sensor design.
• A compensation algorithm was developed using curve fitting to precisely match measured and actual water levels.

Conclusions:

• The developed capacitive sensor accurately measures water levels in a tumbler.
• The system shows potential for integration into a smart tumbler for automated hydration monitoring.
• Further development will include a microprocessor-based digital control system.